Jürg Oggenfuss (standing) conducts an Insignia blending seminar in the Great Hall on September 6. Jürg came to JPV in May of this year from Switzerland with an impressive resume that included having launched and managed a boutique retail wine store near Zurich, as well as having been CEO and president for many years of a gourmet grocery store and retail wine shop in the Zurich area.

Wine Education a Specialty at

JPV Guest Center

By Stephen Pavy, Retail Sales Manager

At Joseph Phelps Vineyards we pride ourselves on offering visitors a choice of several fun and informative wine seminars.

Our personable wine educators are not only knowledgeable about Joseph Phelps Vineyards, but also about the wines, wine regions and winemaking styles around the world. The visitor will also enjoy a full tasting of our newest releases. Although this list can change without notice, it currently includes 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Le Mistral, 2004 Insignia, 2004 Syrah, 2006 Viognier and 2006 Sauvignon Blanc.

Insignia Blending
Taste, compare and blend barrel samples from our top “Insignia block” vineyard sites. Currently we are tasting Cabernet Sauvignon from our “Las Rocas” Stags Leap vineyard, our “Banca Dorada” Rutherford vineyard, and our Spring Valley St. Helena vineyard, along with our Yountville Merlot and Spring Valley Petit Verdot.

The History and Terroir of Insignia
We look at JPV’s thirty-plus years of making Insignia, and ask 1) What makes Insignia so unique? 2) How has the blend changed over the years? 3) What makes it so consistent? We will explore how the Insignia vineyards are managed and demonstrate how the grapes are evaluated to determine the composition of the blend from year to year. Finally, we will discuss the significance of the fact that beginning in 2004, Insignia is being produced from 100% estate-grown grapes.

Le Mistral Blending
Test your skills as a winemaker and experiment with blending the components of Le Mistral, our Rhône-style blend. We are currently tasting Syrah from our Monterey and Napa vineyards, Grenache from Monterey, as well as Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, and Carignane.

Aroma Identity
Exercise Hone your sommelier skills on our “Aroma Identity” tour, where your olfactory senses will be challenged by up to 12 different aromas. This is a fun exercise to see how well you can identify a fruit, flower, or other odor by your nose alone. It is also a great beginning to awaken your sense of smell to the very important role it plays in the overall enjoyment of wine and food.

Barrel Seminar
We will explore winemaking in general (viticulture and fermentation) and then focus on the barrel’s specific role in wine production. How does the choice of a French oak barrel versus an American oak barrel change the finished wine? How are barrels made? How are they used? What is the difference between light, medium and heavy “toast”? How do you know how long to keep wine in the barrel? How does a winemaker make these choices? In this seminar, we will explore various aromas that barrels impart to wine and taste a sample of our 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon aged in three different types of oak and different toast levels.

Wine Appreciation
This seminar leads guests through an exploration of wine’s appeal to all the senses. You can sharpen your skills on wine history, tradition, proper serving, storage and evaluation. We also give an overview of the history of Joseph Phelps Vineyards and the continued role that JPV plays in the culture of wine both here in Napa Valley and around the world.

Plan you next visit to JPV around one of these seminars and look forward to a memorable experience for you and your guest. Call us for schedule details and to make your reservation at 800-707-5789. Our wine education staff will be happy to discuss the seminar and tasting options available.